Steven N.A new American ambassador is coming to Hungary a year and a half after former Ambassador David Cornstein left Budapest, reports Magyar Nemzet. The White House released a statement on Friday indicating that U.S. President Joe Biden had nominated David Pressman for the position.
The 45-year-old Pressman is the former director of George and Amal Clooney’s foundation and worked as a human rights lawyer for former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Between 2014-2017, under President Barack Obama, Pressman represented his country at the United Nations at an ambassadorial level. He currently works as a partner at the New York office of law firm Jenner & Block.
Pressman will have to be confirmed by the US Senate before he can begin working in Hungary, a process that typically takes months.
HVG suggests that David Pressman’s nomination may have symbolic significance: as an advocate of LMBTQ issues, he is coming to a country where the rights of the LMBTQ community have been restricted by the homophobic so-called “child protection” law.
Chargé d’affaires Marc Dillard has been heading the U.S. Embassy in Budapest since the departure of Donald Trump-nomiated David Cornstein in 2021. [HVG]
Great to hear that a former Ambassador, David Pressman will likely represent US in Budapest. He is a well qualified lawyer with extensive experience in both public and private sectors including, but not limited to the public service discussed in article. Very significant resume, especially given his relatively young age. As a gay Jewish male, he brings equally compelling personal traits to his new position. I wish him the best and believe -unlike the dreadful Ambassador Cornstein- that Ambassador Pressman will bring a much more informed, let alone profound moral and ethical dimensions to this position.
Yes and he’ll be at least 30 years younger than Cornstein as well. Shame the entire confirmation process takes so long in the Senate.
Oh and thank you for reminding me of the term “bandwagon effect” in an earlier comment! For some reason that skipped my mind, but after you reminded me of the name I used it in an article, so cheers:)